Indian-origin Redmond City Councilor Menka Soni has praised mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign in New York City, saying it is a proud moment for the Indian community.“I have followed Zohran Mamdani’s entire campaign. My daughter is a big fan of his… I congratulate him...He established a connection with the people. Today, Zohran and others like me should be involved because, as an Indian community, we represent a large country,” Soni told ANI reporters.She added that winning an election in New York City was not a small achievement and hailed Mamdani for bringing a touch of Bollywood to the US, being the son of filmmaker Mira Nair. Soni also shed light on the growing presence of Indians in business and technology sectors in the US, pointing out that many occupy influential positions, including the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella.
Soni herself has made history in the United States by becoming the first Indian-American woman to be sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita after her election to the Redmond City Council in Washington state. She said, “I am a very spiritual person. I have a small temple in my home, and I am a vegetarian. I celebrate Navratri, Holi, and Diwali. We have never really left India in spirit.” She added, “When I had to take the oath, I wanted the teachings of the Gita to be with me because my values align with it, and my culture is represented through it. I received permission for that.”Soni was not the only Indian-origin leader in the US to use the Gita for her swearing-in ceremony, with others including Kash Patel as FBI director, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam from the East Coast, and Tulsi Gabbard, now director of National Intelligence.
